Associated Press Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 11:30 Last update: about 2 minutes ago ]]> Egypt and Iran, two Middle East nations which target gays and lesbians, have complained to FIFA over a World Cup soccer match in Seattle that is planned to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride. Leaders in the nation’s soccer federations publicly rebuked the idea of playing the match June 26 at Seattle Stadium, which local organizers say will include a “once-in-a-lifetime moment to showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities in Washington.” In Egypt, the soccer federation issued a statement late Tuesday saying it sent a letter to FIFA “categorically rejecting any activities related to supporting homosexuality during the match.” Seattle PrideFest has been organized in the city since 2007 by a nonprofit which designated the June 26 game for celebration before FIFA made the World Cup draw Friday. FIFA chose Saturday to allocate the Egypt-Iran game to Seattle instead of Vancouver, where...

Ganado Advocates Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 12:10 Last update: about 5 minutes ago ]]> Autonomous vessels are set to revolutionize the shipping industry, whereby they will gradually and eventually transform global maritime trade through advances in artificial intelligence (AI), sensor technologies and remote operations. As traditional shipping faces ever-growing challenges – from aging fleets to rising safety concerns to ever-increasing environmental rules and regulations – autonomous ships offer a compelling solution that promises increased efficiency and safety whilst simultaneously reducing carbon emissions and operational costs. Whereas fully unmanned ships remain on the horizon, 2025 marks a pivotal milestone as semi-autonomous ships enter practical commercial service, leveraging remote control centres and advanced AI-driven navigation to optimise routs, enhance situational awareness and mitigate human error. Supported by regulatory frameworks and rapid technological advancements, autonomous shipping is set to become a cornerstone of the maritime industry, ushering in a new era where intelligent...

]]> Minister for Education Clifton Grima has announced that “the official journey for Malta to become an associate member of CERN has now begun.” Concluding his visit to Switzerland on CERN’s invitation, Minister Grima stated that he visited the European Organization for Nuclear Research with one goal in mind: “to open doors for more research and innovation in Malta.” “This is the first step in a national vision that connects our brightest minds with world-class scientists, and ensures that Malta has a direct voice in the development of future technologies. For Maltese researchers, educators, and students, this is not just a symbolic move but it is a strategic investment in their future,” Minister Grima said. Malta, together with Xjenza Malta, will be working towards securing closer membership with CERN. It was said that this step will offer more opportunities for international level capacity building, scientific exploration, STEAM-based learning, and global...

]]> The programme of activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Domestic Violence continued with the signing of a three-year agreement between the Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, the Local Government Division, and the Bank of Valletta, a government statement said. Through this agreement, the three entities will work together to deliver financial education within the community, with a focus on avoiding situations that lead to financial control and dependency, one of the forms of domestic violence. The agreement was signed by the Commissioner for Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Samantha Pace Gasan, the Director General of the Local Government Division Emil Vassallo, and Simon Azzopardi on behalf of the Bank of Valletta. Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg said that this financial education campaign aims to help reduce economic dependency, which often becomes the root cause of psychological violence and a form of control...

]]> The Minister for Health and Active Ageing, Jo Etienne Abela, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, announced that the national health service will begin offering the facility for individuals to freeze eggs and sperm for use at a later stage in the IVF process. Addressing a press conference, Abela said that until now, this facility was offered only to individuals for medical reasons. The new criteria, which are coming into force immediately, will also include women between 18 and 34 years of age who may wish to become parents in the future. They will now be able to undergo egg freezing and sperm freezing free of charge through the public service (NHS) for personal future use, with the aim of preserving their fertility. Abela explained that as age advances, the fertility rate in women declines continuously. He stated that this rate may also be negatively...

]]> A debate unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday evening as the Opposition put forward Motion No. 406, calling for amendments to the Protection of Agricultural Land Regulations (Legal Notice 150 of 2025). The motion, led by Shadow Minister for Transport, Agriculture and Fisheries Toni Bezzina, argues that the current legislation grants excessive powers to the government and the Malta Agricultural Resources Agency, raising concerns over property rights and traditional rural activities. Bezzina criticised the regulations as “arbitrary” and argued that the Opposition was excluded from meaningful consultation. He warned that the law risks restricting traditional Maltese rural hobbies, including hunting, trapping, and recreational use, and could penalise landowners maintaining small plots or resting fields. Bezzina also highlighted the limited availability of agricultural land in Malta, noting that only 5% of farmland belongs to the government, 28% is privately owned, and 23% is leased by public entities. He stressed that agricultural...

]]> Momentum committee member Dr Matthew Agius has filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the Lands Authority seeking full disclosure of documents related to dB Group’s application to take over a stretch of public rock coastline in St George’s Bay, for the excavation of a swimming pool and the construction of a beach deck. In a statement Tuesday, Momentum published the e-mail Agius sent to the authority requesting an FOI regarding ownership/title/encroachment of the site in St George’s Bay. The information required is the following: a copy of any and all contracts and agreements of ownership, emphyteusis, lease, possession, encroachment or any other title or concession related to the area outlined in red as shown in the photo. The site is presently a cluster of boathouses in St George’s Bay. Agius also requested the minutes of meetings of the Board of Governors of the Lands Authority related to...

]]> Maltese rower Steve Chetcuti will be participating in this year’s World’s Toughest Row – and he’s doing it solo. Chetcuti, a former editor of The Malta Independent, said he will join 42 other teams to row across the Atlantic Ocean, a gruelling 3,000-mile (4,800km) journey where he “will face waves up to five metres high, sleep deprivation, hallucinations, pains, and sores as he rows up to 16 hours a day”.  As a solo, Chetcuti – whose team name is Cross Rower – will have to take care of navigation, maintaining his boat, checking the weather, taking care of personal hygiene, preparing food, keeping healthy, and rowing. The ocean crossing is a daunting task which can take anything up to 85 days, and even longer depending on the weather. “It’s a mammoth trip that will test every fibre of my physical and mental capabilities. It’s hard enough in a team,...

]]> Six Maltese nativity scenes are among forty-five works from twenty different countries displayed in a prestigious exhibition being held at the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome. Malta’s participation was organised through the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepji Għawdex Malta 1985, with the support of the Ministry for Inclusion and Volunteering, which financed all transport-related costs. The Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering attended the official inauguration of the exhibition, held on Saturday, 6 December 2025. Eight Maltese volunteers assisted in assembling the exhibition, which includes contributions from countries renowned for their artistic nativity traditions, including Spain, Italy, Austria and Germany. On this occasion, the Nativity Museum in Greccio was also inaugurated, and it houses the Maltese nativity scene installed by the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepju Għawdex Malta 1985. The nativity scene, created by Benny Camilleri, was selected by the local mayor and will form part of the museum’s permanent exhibition. Julia...

]]>  European Union officials on Monday were finalizing a major overhaul of its migration system, including streamlined deportations and increased detentions. There has long been a fierce debate among EU members about migration. Since a surge in asylum-seekers and other migrants to Europe a decade ago, public debate on the issue has shifted and far-right parties have gained political power. EU migration policies have hardened, and the number of asylum-seekers is down from record levels. U.S. President Donald Trump in recent days issued sharp criticism of EU migration policiesas part of a new national security strategy that paints European allies as weak. Ministers meeting in Brussels quickly agreed to a “safe third country” concept and a list of safe countries of origin, said Danish minister Rasmus Stoklund. It means that EU nations can deny residency and deport migrants because they either hail from a safe country or could apply for asylum in one outside the EU....